Sliding patio doors can be difficult to clean—especially if you have little ones running around. The glass becomes covered in fingerprints, the screen itself becomes caked in dust—and soon, you realize that you cannot see out of your once beautiful sliding door. Although spraying the door with your garden hose may work temporarily, you will quickly realize that it just isn't enough.

So what do you do? Remove the door and tackle cleaning it. If you don't know how, don't worry—it is easier than it sounds and you can use these seven steps to make it even easier: 

1. Ensure You Have the Proper Tools

Before you begin, make sure you have the proper tools to both remove and clean your sliding door. To do it properly, you will need:

• Screwdriver
• Vacuum
• Large tarp
• Dish Detergent
• Lubricant (WD-40)
• Old toothbrush
• Towels
• Steel Wool
• Water
• Bucket

Use this list and gather all of the tools you will need into a single place. To make things flow smoothly, place these items in your workspace—which may be your backyard, garage, or anywhere large enough to hold the door.

2. Remove the Door

Once you have everything gathered, you should remove the door. Use your screwdriver to loosen the screws that hold the door in place. Set the screws aside in a safe place. Carefully lift the door from the tracks and lay it down on the tarp. Repeat with the screen door.

3. Brush Away Debris

Gently brush away any excess dirt and debris from the screen door with an old towel or toothbrush. If there is still a lot of excess dirt, use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove the rest.

Make sure you remove any dirt and debris from the track, as well. Again, you can use an old rag, toothbrush, or a vacuum. If you have any buildup, use steel wool or an old toothbrush with soapy water to remove it.

4. Apply Water

Prepare the screen door for cleaning by rinsing it with water. You can use your garden hose to do this if you have one. If not, you can use a bucket filled with water and simply pour it over the screen.

Before you actually wash the door, fill a large bucket up with hot water and dish detergent—fill the bucket with about 1/4 cup of dish detergent and fill the rest up with hot water.

5. Wash the Door

Finally, use the soapy water mixture and a clean towel to wash all components of your sliding door—both the glass and the screens. Work quickly and in circular motions to prevent streaking. Once the door is clean, rinse it with clean water. Wipe down with a dry, clean towel and let air dry.

If you notice streaks once the door is dry, use a glass cleaner and a microfiber towel to remove them.

6. Lubricate

While the doors are drying, lubricate the tracks (and any moving parts) with a clean towel and a lubricant such as WD-40. Wipe away the excess lubricant before continuing.

7. Reassemble

Finally, put the door back on its hinges. Before leaving, make sure the door moves properly and locks with ease.

Although it may not be a walk in the park, you should take the time to properly clean and maintain your sliding patio doors at least once—if not twice—per year. Use this guide to help you, if you have never done it before. If you follow these tips and notice that your door still doesn't come clean, you might need to replace it (with the help of companies like Scott's Screens).